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30 Richest Dyslexic Entrepreneurs

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I’m sure some of you have realised I’m dyslexic.

When I was younger I struggled to read and write and now I earn more then a full time income being a writer which is kind of strange considering the issues I had with it.

Being an Internet entrepreneur/Blogger has helped me dramatically improve my reading and writing. For today’s post, I thought it would be interesting to see which other entrepreneurs are dyslexic and was very happy to see some huge names!

I am also left handed and a college dropout, so to make this list even more intersting I decided to find out who else is just like me. It was great to see I share these characteristics with Henry Ford and Walt Disney! Both of them were dyslexic, left handed and college dropouts, the only down side is they both went bankrupt at some point…

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects a person’s reading and writing abilities. However, many successful entrepreneurs have overcome this challenge and achieved great success in their respective fields. In this article, we will take a look at the 30 richest dyslexic entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact on the business world despite their learning disability.

These individuals have proven that dyslexia is not a barrier to success and have inspired many others to create a business themselves.

Dyslexia an advantage or a disadvantage in business?

Dyslexia is often seen as a disadvantage. Recent studies have shown that dyslexic entrepreneurs have unique skills that make them successful. Dyslexia is a learning difference that affects reading, writing, and spelling, but it also comes with strengths like creativity, problem-solving, and resilience.

Dyslexic entrepreneurs are often able to see problems from a different perspective and come up with innovative solutions. They are also able to delegate tasks effectively and think outside the box. Many successful entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs and Barbara Corcoran are dyslexic, proving that dyslexia is not a barrier to success, but rather a unique advantage.

Dyslexic, Left Handed and College Dropout Entrepreneurs

Rank
Name Business Net Worth Dropout Left handed
1
Henry Ford
Ford Motor Company $188,000,000,000 Yes Yes
2
Ingvar Kamprad
IKEA $22,000,000,000
3
Richard C. Strauss
Real Estate Developer $18,500,000,000
4
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab $6,200,000,000
5
Richard Branson
Virgin $5,000,000,000 Yes
6
Kerry Packer
Nine Network $4,800,000,000
7
David H. Murdock
Dole Foods $4,700,000,000
8
Reyn Guyer
Nerf Ball $4,400,000,000
9
William Hewlett
HP $4,100,000,000
10
Steve Jobs
Apple $3,400,000,000 Yes
11
William Wrigley, Jr.
Wrigley $3,400,000,000
12
Steven Spielberg
Dream Works $3,100,000,000 Yes
13
Craig McCaw
McCaw Cellular $2,500,000,000
14
Ted Turner
Turner Broadcasting Systems $2,300,000,000
15
David Neeleman
JetBlue Airways $1,600,000,000
16
Tommy Hilfiger
Hilfiger Clothing $1,600,000,000
17
F.W. Woolworth
Woolworths $1,500,000,000 Yes
18
Walt Disney
The Walt Disney Company $1,100,000,000 Yes Yes
19
John T Chambers
Cisco Systems $1,000,000,000
20
Nelson Rockefeller
Standard Oil $1,000,000,000 Yes
21
Thomas J. Watson, Jr.
IBM $800,000,000 Yes
22
Vince McMahon
World Wrestling Entertainment $480,000,000
23
Horst Rechelbacher
Aveda Corporation $300,000,000
24
Paul J. Orfalea
Kinko’s $250,000,000
25
Thomas Edison
General Electric $250,000,000 yes
26
Anita Roddick
The Body Shop $200,000,000
27
Alexander Graham Bell
Bell $122,000,000 Yes
28
John Britten
Britten Motorcycle Company $100,000,000
29
G. Chris Anderson
Drexel Burnham $90,000,000 Yes
30
Ben Way
Waysearch $35,000,000 Yes

FAQ about whether dyslexia will hold you back from running a successful business

Will being dyslexic hold me back from being a successful business owner?

No, being dyslexic will not hold you back from being a successful business owner. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that affects reading and writing abilities. However, it does not affect one’s ability to think creatively, problem-solve, or lead a team. Many successful entrepreneurs have dyslexia and have been able to overcome their challenges to achieve great success.

Can dyslexia actually be an advantage in business?

Yes, of course dyslexia can be an advantage in business. Dyslexics tend to have strong problem-solving skills, are creative thinkers, and can visualize things in a unique way. These skills can be incredibly valuable when it comes to running a business and coming up with innovative solutions to complex problems.

What are some challenges that dyslexic entrepreneurs might face?

Dyslexic entrepreneurs may face challenges with written communication, such as writing emails or creating reports. They may also struggle with certain aspects of running a business, such as managing finances or keeping organized. However, there are many tools and resources available to help dyslexic entrepreneurs overcome these challenges.

What advice would you give to someone with dyslexia who wants to start a business?

If you have dyslexia and want to start a business, it’s important to remember that your learning disability does not define you. Focus on your strengths and find ways to work around your challenges. Surround yourself with a supportive team and utilize tools and resources that can help you overcome any obstacles you may face. With hard work and determination, you can achieve great success as a dyslexic entrepreneur.

Is being a college dropout a disadvantage?

It depends on the individual’s situation and goals. Dropping out of college does not necessarily mean failure or a lack of success. Many successful entrepreneurs and professionals have dropped out of college and gone on to achieve great things. However, it can limit certain opportunities and make it more difficult to obtain certain jobs or advance in certain careers that require a college degree.

Additionally, dropping out of college can result in missed opportunities for personal and professional growth, networking, and skill development that college provides. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for their situation.

Why are so many successful people left handed?

While it is true that a disproportionate number of successful people are left-handed, there is no clear reason as to why this is the case. Studies have shown that left-handed people tend to be more creative, have better visual-spatial skills, and are more likely to excel in certain fields such as music, art, and sports.

It is also possible that left-handed people have had to adapt to a world designed for right-handed people, which has helped them develop unique problem-solving skills and resilience.

However, it is important to note that left-handedness alone does not guarantee success and that many successful people are right-handed as well. Ultimately, success is determined by a combination of factors such as hard work, talent, opportunity, and luck.

Comments

  1. Scott :: IrnMedia.net says

    It’s unfortunate James couldn’t continue Kerry’s interest of the Nine Network after he passed away. He decided to go after Casino’s instead… wise investment…

    Nice list all the same 🙂

  2. Genentech should be Ikea buddy

  3. Simon | Teenius says

    Cool list 😀

    Regarding Richard Branson (#5), for those of you who don’t know he wasn’t really a dropout… he got kicked out of school for having it on with the headmasters daughter! 😀

    • OMG ahaha! I guess what happens is he was “Asked to leave…” which wouild make it look better for getting in future schools.

    • OMG! What a ledge! 🙂

      • Thinking about it now, I bet that headmaster feels a little dumb. His daughter just missed out on a cool $5bil :p

        • Simon | Teenius says

          Probably 😀

          He had been threatened to be kicked out of school before that, but he set up his own suicide so that the only way he wouldn’t do it was to be let back into the school. Of course, he never was going to actually kill himself, but it got him back into school.

          BTW, all of this came from watching a documentary about him. He really is an inspirational figure 😀

    • Stuart Wooster says

      Why does that not surprise me? LoL!

      Richard and his Virgin girls…

  4. WOW. Awesome list. I want to see my name in it in future!

  5. Alex Hughes says

    Great list.
    I love the lack of left handed people.

  6. Cool list, and very interesting to see how many people in this list are actually some of the most successful people in the world.

    Thanks Michael!

  7. Stuart Wooster says

    I think that list points to one thing (and also what we see of Michael when he is not playing Xbox ;)……

    It is not our capabilities that matter, hell, you maybe highly skilled! If you do not take action then you will not accomplish even the smallest of achievements compared to the ‘can do’ attitude of someone who faces challenges positively.

    Now I’m going to stop reading here and start writing 😉

  8. Michael,

    Where are you on this list?

  9. Shane - Inspiring your Success says

    Very interesting list. Did not know about Walt Disney… knew about most of the others though.

  10. I like the idea of dropping out college, but bad, I’m not a left-handed person 😛

    Great list Michael!

  11. Wow, awesome list mate, inspirational. 🙂

  12. Ted Turner is also a college dropout. Actually, to be accurate, he was kicked out of Brown for having an unauthorized female companion in his room.
    He might have finished later on somewhere else, though. Which may be the reason he’s not listed as a “dropout.”

    • Ahaha… Thats fuuny, seems all these entrepreneurs have more in common with each other then I first thought.

  13. Wow thats great Jeromy, not surprised though! I think we have this thing where we have to prove to everyone that we can be a success, its all about taking action. I hope to see you up their on the list one day!

  14. I did not know that Steve Jobs was dyslexic. However, Spielberg did graduate from college 33 years after he dropped out.

    While I appreciate one of your points in this post, that being a successful online entrepreneur does not require a college degree. I wonder how you feel about a college education in general? A waste of time or worth the effort?

    I would be curious to know how many followers of your blog graduated from college and furthermore what percentage of online entrepreneurs are college graduates. My point is that graduating from college or not has a limited correlation with online success. Being tired of a job, wanting more control of your time, wanting to create passive income, wanting to work from home and a host of other reasons are why people become online entrepreneurs. The decision is not between college and entrepreneurship but what you want to do with your life.

    I don’t think people are struggling with the potential barrier of being a college dropout and not thinking they can cut it in this online entrepreneurial world. Quite the opposite. There are few barriers to entry to sell stuff online.

    • Hello Andrew,

      Thank you for your comment. I personally dropped out of college, but to Americans it would be high school. A lot of young entrepreneurs I speak to are in high school but realise the opportunities out their will allow them to make more money if they just skipped out high school and then college.

      I do think being a college dropout effects you because it means the job opportunities are lower and by creating your own business you prove everyone wrong and show them actually you can be a success.

      Their is a few barriers to selling online but to do a lot of things “successfully” it doesn’t just take action, it also takes great thinking such as Tony Hsieh who runs Zappos.com – they have been such a huge success because of their whole philosophy and not just by selling you something.

      I hope that helps,

      Michael

  15. Kevin Sievers says

    Interesting list, Michael. I’m left-handed, college dropoff, slightly dyslexic (used to be worse). In general most people I personally know think I’m awaste of space.

    I’m just starting to dive into this whole online game. So far, with your help, and about 3 others, I think I can actually sift through the bs and get something going. Thanx!

    Thanx for the great tips the other day, too.

  16. Mohammad Afaq says

    This is a really great list and I love these kinds of lists from you blog. Keep it up.

    Mohammad Afaq
    Free Website Traffic

  17. Wow, look at the list! I think this is the only place where i can find all the millionaire than other side.

    Nice touch.

    https://outofrangeblog.blogspot.com/

  18. Corey Freeman says

    I don’t think I would drop out of HS or, subsequently, college. I find a lot of value in the stuff that they teach us (at least in my science and English classes) and of course I learn 70% of my life lessons from participating in the school music programs, so…I do have my bouts of dyslexia, but I’m right handed. Interesting list. Thomas Edison is my favorite inventor of all time, actually. Interesting to know he was left handed, haha!

  19. Christine Duvivier says

    Dear Michael,

    This is absolutely fantastic!!! It’s something most parents and teens don’t know. I use a few examples — including Branson — to help parents and teens feel great about the kids’ potential when they are not good students.

    I love your list! Will send you a recent post about a British study on a related subject.

    Thanks,
    Christine

  20. Rick Kats says

    awesome list, like some one mentioned above, action and positive attitude will get you to where want to get.

  21. I think that list says volumes about those with dyslexia… perhaps it is not so much a handicap.. I would venture to say it’s another way of viewing a task at hand that others cannot view it in that particular way, and it is NOT the wrong way to view it either… Just as well, its not just about being able to read words correctly!

    Great list man! very inspiring

    • Someone once described dyslexia to me as this:

      Normal people see from a to b but someone who is dyslexic see the whole picture, every route every direction….

      Which could explain why they have been so successful!

  22. I know many people who suffer from Dyslexia. So many people say that they cannot do anything. I am definitely going to forward this post to all my friends.

    • Exactly what I want to see Farrhad, proves to everyone, what ever is holding you back, you can still achieve great things!

  23. Martin Murphy says

    Funny comments but this is a great inspiration to the homeless people I work with!

  24. Great list…..couldnt agree more that dyslexia is just a different way of looking at things. Has Steve Jobs said he’s dyslexic – I know lots of people say he is. Wondered where you’d taken it from.

  25. lisa milliron says

    my twitter name say’s it all please help me make a difference… @ IAmDyslexic or e-mail me at dreamteamlisa@yahoo.com thank u

  26. lisa milliron says

    i was born using my left hand untill 1st grade i was smacked with a ruller and had the pencil pulled from my left hand placed into my right hand, same for 2nd grade, now i use both and have horible hand writting skills letters slant both ways i went to school when dyslexics were placed with the mintal retarted some even tied to their chairs, the only thing i remmber learning for those years was to sit with hands folded i didn’t learn to read untill i was in the 6 or 7 grade my spelling and grammar is at 4th grade level,

    i have raise 7 children 5 of them at this time are in college i’v have ran a 6 figure a year business for 8 years opened up 2 business in my town that i was the operations manager of can look me up and info on that by googling search my name Lisa Milliron i live in Brunswick ohio and i’m here on the internet to make a diffence , i did’t use spell checker i want to share who i really am when looked at through words becouse the way i use my dyslexic gift many , well most never even knew of my struggles, but it has possed many many walls in my life but i’m bringing down that masive barer one brick at a time i’ll be on a list one day to show other dyslexics its ok being us
    thanks lisa

  27. James Avery says

    Very interesting list Michael, knew IK had an interesting past, but didn’t know he was left handed and dyslexic, but nothing surprising there, look at all those funny names on IKEA products 😉

    • Ahaha 🙂 Very Good James, your be surprised the backgrounds a lot of people have.

      Michael

  28. Pat Bloomfield says

    We all know dyslexics are brighter, ha ha, but I that my hat off to you earning living through writing a blog.

    Getting my head around marketing & sales is proving tough for my photography business as I find it hard to express myself. So you have my full attention now 🙂

    Pat Bloomfield
    https://www.patbweddingphotography.com

  29. Lucian Balanu says

    This list of poples , for me represents the proof , that when you work, and you work real hard .. you become what you whant .. a teacher in your busines.. and that is what make’s us the best ..
    So.. let us see them like teachers in what they have done ..
    and follow their stepts..
    in eny busines , peoples are winning and loosing.. this iis the life.. we have to be the winers !!!

  30. Personal Growth and Improvement says

    This is very nice site you have. I enjoyed browsing through it. Your site has a lot of useful information. thank you for sharing your info.

  31. Sam Hutch Harper, III says

    Any information on how to utilize my Dyslexic identification to further my career opportunities. Any information you can send along or groups that get together to share tips would be great.

  32. I think, Most of US national drop out from college when compared to Asian and other continent countries.

    Left hand habit also same like that.

  33. OneLifeNoFear says

    Fabulous post. My son is dyslexic and this is a great resource to show him.. thanks

  34. You made my day with this… Thanks!

  35. Entrepreneur on Twitter says

    That’s really interesting, I have often read about successful people being left handed and or dyslexic, I suppose that from every difficulty comes an equal and opposite effect. Well done for taking the time to compile that table!

  36. Entrepreneur on Twitter says

    That’s really interesting, I have often read about successful people being left handed and or dyslexic, I suppose that from every difficulty comes an equal and opposite effect. Well done for taking the time to compile that table!

    This is the right post!!!!

  37. something to consider says

    Are there any people of color you can report on?

    This gives insight into who is clearly being assisted in the system we live in.

    If someone isn’t succeeding, it’s important to consider not why they can’t get ahead but also the situational and systemic factors that block them from being able to advance.

  38. This is a great list! I am a teacher of elementary dyslexic students. I am always looking for famous dyslexics to encourage my students.

  39. Steve Jobs is left-handed isnt he?

  40. my son who recently finished 10grade without any help has dyslexia,and he has got an offer from a LD school in USA since we are from srilanka is it really worth to send him to US to finish 13yrs of school as its a must to enter into any career he chooses.Opinions will be most welcome.

  41. Rodney Raymundo says

    Great list Michael! My 6 year old son is dyslexic. He might not be that academically inclined though he is physically advance. He learned to swim and ride the bike on his own , when he is about 2-3 years old. I know with the right guidance and support , he can become successful. Regards from Manila 🙂

  42. In architecture there is high proportion of left handed and dyslexic people. Antonio Gaudi spent 10 years doing a 5 year course because he was dyslectic. Richard Rogers, Jørn Utzon (Sydney Opera house) and Mackintosh are all dyslexic as well.
    The funny thing with architecture the best architect didn’t go to collage Frank Lloyd Wright, Corbusier and Mackintosh were all put of work by the architectural profession and all hated architects.
    The modernist movement in architecture is all about none qualified architects doing architecture.
    Makes me wonder why in the UK it is a 7 year course which progresses from part 1 to 2 to 3 when architecture is the art of being holistic.

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